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18-Mar-08:
E-Petition - the Response ...
A few weeks ago we highlighted an "e-petition" that had been posted
on the 10 Downing Street (UK Government) website about getting
squash into the London 2012 Olympics.
Hundreds of you signed up, and today Her Majesty's Government
delivered its response ...
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What do
YOU think ??
Olympic
Forum
What do
YOU think ??
Olympic
Forum |
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The Petition |
"We the
undersigned petition the Prime Minister to make squash an olympic
game in the london 2012 olympics."
Details of Petition:
"Squash is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world
in which Britain excels at. Squash has been a popular game which can
be played all year round. This game was created by the British
public the same time football and rugby in post industrial Britain
and I believe is still a main part of British culture. The
facilities needed are cost effective as a big arena is not needed
due to small courts and there is a low maintenance cost therefore
they will not be expensive to leave the legacy. Squash needs a big
event to create publicity for this sport as in Britain the game is
dying out."
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The UK Government's Response |
Thank you for your e-petition asking for squash to be entered into
the 2012 Olympics. Adding Olympic sports is up to the International
Olympic Committee. A new sport can only be admitted to the programme
of the Olympic Games at least seven years before the date of the
Games at which it will be included. In July 2005 the IOC reviewed
its entire summer programme for the first time in almost 70 years,
and 26 of the 28 sports from Athens 2004 were chosen for London
2012.
The removal of baseball and softball allowed IOC members to vote on
the inclusion of two new sports for the 2012 Olympic Games and
karate and squash were nominated as potentially part of the Olympic
programme for London 2012. However, neither obtained the necessary
two-thirds majority from IOC members and so will not be included for
London 2012.
Nonetheless squash is an important game with a proud tradition in
this country and we continue to support it. Through the £3 million
Government-backed Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) 40
promising squash players receive funding to help develop their
potential further. (TASS is a partnership between the National
Governing Bodies of Sport and Further and Higher Education in
England that focuses on maintaining a balance between academic life
and training and competing as sportsmen and women).
We also support squash at community level. In 2007 to 2008 Sport
England is providing £1,106,450 in Lottery funding and £1,075,893 in
Exchequer funding, making a total of £2,182,343.
The Lottery funding is supporting activities including the Community
Sports Coach Scheme and Club and Coach funding. The Exchequer funds
support the Community Club Development Programme and the Squash
Player Pathway Development.
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the England
Men's Team, who recently retained their title at the World
Championships in India - this is a very impressive achievement which
means England's men's and women's teams are both currently world
champions.
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